Roman Reigns Addresses In-Ring Retirement Plans Amid Physical Challenges

Roman Reigns has been part of WWE for over 10 years and still performs at a top level. However, he is currently 39 and there is a limit to how much he can perform inside the squared circle. In light of his future in pro wrestling, The OTC has addressed how long he will continue to compete as an active in-ring competitor.

While speaking to Sports Illustrated, Roman Reigns was asked about his future in professional wrestling and how long he plans on competing inside the squared circle and whether he will retire soon enough. Reigns noted that it depends on the day and how he is feeling. Some days his body feels like a wreck, and he can clearly remember moments like getting hit with a chair by Sheamus in Europe. Years of wrestling all over the world have taken a toll, and sometimes he wakes up sore and wonders if it’s time to stop for good.

“Well, I guess it depends on what day you ask me and how I’m feeling that day, you know? Because the real answer right there—yeah, the body—sometimes the body feels like a train wreck. I can vividly picture Sheamus hitting me with a chair somewhere over in Europe, you know what I mean? I’ve done that dance with a lot of guys all over the world, year after year.

Sometimes, no matter what you do, you just wake up sore, and your body hurts. On those days, I’ll tell you, man, I think to myself, ‘What’s going on here? Is everything good? Maybe we could stop.'”

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Despite the physical strain, The Head of the Table feels there is still so much to achieve in his career. Reigns noted that he is learning more about himself and how to perform better, control the crowd, and tell new stories. With new family members joining WWE, Reigns is motivated to keep going as long as he can still train and stay in shape.

The former Undisputed WWE Champion joked that if they could find a way to avoid falling and taking bumps, he would focus on making movies. He added that there is something special about being in the ring, feeling the live reaction from the crowd, stating that there is an energy and connection that can’t be copied, and that’s what keeps him in WWE.

“But then, like you said, there’s just so much meat left on the bone. There’s so much I’m learning—not only about myself but about the performance in general. How to manipulate them, how to get better at them, how to control the crowd better—all these different things. There are so many stories left to tell, and with new family members coming in, it’s one of those deals where, as long as I can… you know how athletes say, ‘As long as you can continue to practice…’

As long as I feel good enough to practice, then I can play. And as long as I feel good enough to train and keep myself physically in shape to go out there and fall down—because that’s the thing, it’s the falling down—then I’m good. If we could figure out how to stop falling down and taking bumps, man, we’d bring in the double and just run Hollywood, you know?

But there’s just something about being out there in the middle of the storm, that simultaneous live reaction. Making movies is very cool, but there’s something about having the crowd right there, in the palm of your hand, that you just can’t emulate. You can’t duplicate it. That’s WWE.”

For now, Roman Reigns is focused on his upcoming match at the Survivor Series Premium Live Event, where he will team up with the Original Bloodline and CM Punk to face off against Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline and Bronson Reed in a WarGames match on November 30th. It’s clear Reigns will be competing at the top level for as long as possible and fans simply hope he will only retire when he feels his body can’t take it anymore.

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